Spotty Calcification as a Marker of Accelerated Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis: Insights From Serial Intravascular Ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to determine atheroma progression in patients with spotty calcification. Although extensively calcified atherosclerotic lesions have been proposed to be clinically quiescent, the presence of spotty calcification within plaque has been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of ischemic cardiovascular events. The relationship between spotty calcification and disease progression has not been investigated. A total of 1,347 stable patients with angiographic coronary artery disease underwent serial evaluation of atheroma burden with intravascular ultrasound imaging. Patients with spotty calcification were identified based on the presence of lesions (1 to 4 mm in length) containing an arc of calcification of